Struck off midwife wins appeal as judge overturns NMC verdict

The judge said Eunice Ogbonna had not had a fair trial as there were “bad feelings” between the midwife and her team leader Betty Pilgrim at Homerton hospital, Hackney, east London.

The team leader, who left the UK to live in the Caribbean, was a crucial witness against Ogbonna relating to allegations of misconduct in 2005.

The misconduct charges were proved after the Nursing & Midwifery Council’s conduct and competence committee allowed a written statement Pilgrim had made to be read out at Mrs Ogbonna’s disciplinary hearing.

Mrs Justice Nicola Davies, sitting at the High Court in London, ruled the finding of misconduct and the consequent striking off order, made last June, could not stand.

The judge said it had become clear “that no efforts were made to secure the attendance of Ms Pilgrim at the hearing, either in person or by way of video link”.

The bad feeling between the two women “meant that every effort should have been made” to secure the attendance of Ms Pilgrim so that she could be cross examined.

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